Kukla's Korner Hockey

Allan Stanley, the Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman of four Maple Leafs championship teams, has died at age 87.

Stanley, known for matinee-idol good looks and a cumbersome skating stride that earned him the nickname “Snowshoes,” played 21 NHL seasons, including four as a member of the Leafs’ Stanley Cup-winning teams in 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1967.

“He was a damn good teammate,” said Dick Duff, who played on the first two of those 1960s Cup teams. “He was smart on the ice. He was always prepared to play. He put a lot into hockey.”

Given up as too old by the Bruins, the Maple Leafs got ten excellent years out of the wily veteran. Although slow of foot (he was nicknamed 'Snowshoes' by the Toronto press), Allan was a cerebral player, and matched beautifully with blueline partner Tim Horton.

"Allan was one of the best 'angle' defencemen," declared Johnny Bower. "He would give a goaltender a perfect angle. If Gordie Howe was coming down the wing, he would steer him to such a bad angle that there was no way that Howe could score a goal on you. If he did, he would have to put it through your legs or on the short side. There is no way you could blame a defenceman for that. He was not a fast skater by any means. He would stay back and headman that puck. He was a steady, stay-at-home guy."